Mlis - first of all ring up that counsellor and f**k her out of it! That wasn't counselling at all, so don't feel anyway guilty about not going - you were just unlucky to find a lazy ass cretin! How to deal with your depression is something that you are and will learn to cope with - it is foolish to think that it will go away, but there are ways to cope with it. Just like changing doctors, I really think you should look into going to a PROPER counsellor for help. Obviously this PhD is causing the majority of the stress, but unless someone is there to show you ways and means of coping with life rather than one task, it is futile! Obviously this will mean looking for names and so forth, but you are well capable once ya decide to take the first step (ask a trusted GP or even go to the local church ... nothing about religion but perhaps they can refer you onto someone decent.

Sneaks is right - it is a lit review, but NOT the lit review. It will be changed before the end. Maybe you need some text to help you ... Doing a literature review by Chris Hart might provide a different perspective. A small tip. Sit down at your desk and look out the window and write what you see ... it may have nothing to do with your lit but hey, you need to stretch the limbs :-)

When in the sh!ts as regards writing, I throw on some choons and get a whiteboard marker, go to the whiteboard and start writing down whatever comes in my head. It does work and better with a ciggie and a beer (I kid you not - shout out your ideas and write the key words down). This may seem futile, but by the end of it, you are going to be the total flip side of now ... you will want to put down your ideas and want to display that, yeah, I AM THE EXPERT SO BE PREPARED TO LISTEN UP TO THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MLIS!!!

I need a cup of tea to calm down methinks
:$

I do indeed Sneaks and it's saved me from insanity and also helped me get through a power of work. And yep, that's how the chat room works - we all work for 25 mins, then chat for 5. People cheer each other on, it's really supportive and I do this for hours at a stretch and get lots done. Url is http://phinished.org

Bonzo is right - your counsellor sounds like rubbish, and a bully. If you need to talk about your depression, that should be respected and you should be able to talk about it, not be bullied into trying to work. I think you should find someone else. Bonzo is also right about the whiteboard. When I've been stuck, I've also written ideas down on butcher's paper, or even spoken thoughts and recorded them. These practices make you think about things differently, they use different parts of the brain and can break a block.

Mlis,
Any update on progress?